Railway axle journal lubricator



J. J. HENNESSY RAILWAY AXLE JOURNAL LUBRICATOR May 19, 1953 "2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed March 13, 1950 Jn enfer e/ams J fenmessy l l "X Mal'- 19, 71953 u 1J. HENNl-:ssY 2,639,202 RAILWAY Am: JOURNAL LUBRYICATOR.

Filed March' 15, 195o y 2 2 Sheng-sheet z l za v .2z r, f

farenr Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED-- STATES PA'IEN'I"A ori-'ICE l aess'gzozv' James J. Hennessy, Chambersburg, Pa., assignor to Hennessy Lubricator Company, Inc., Chambersburg, Pa., a corporation of Delaware 'Application March 13, 195o, serialNo. 149,415

, 17 claims. (Cilaos-s4) The invention-relates to the lubrication of railway axle journalsand more particularly to a type of lubricator in which the play of ythe journal axially crosswise of the .track in the box actuates a pump to supplyoil from the bottom of the box to the journal.,4 v -Y v In an application led by the present applicant December 7, 1949, Serial No. 131,579, there is disclosed a lubricator characterized by having a collapsible pump body positioned between a lubricant distributor applied toA the journal vand the actuating arm of apumpfoperating lever which has an actuated arm disposedto engage and extend outwardly beyond the lower periphery of the collar on the end of the journal. gy v One object of the present 'invention' is to vadapt a lubricator of the type described, including the pump and the actuatinggmechanism, to'be positioned substantially entirely inwardly from outer endof'thejournal.; Y

Another Objectis to facilitate the passage of such a lubricatorthroughythe restricted-space between theend of thejournal and the adjacent portion of the walls of a box l mounted on the journal.`

the

The present invention embodies a: collapsible4 pump body supported by the substantially-horizontal actuating yarm of -a .bell crank lever, the actuated arm or arms of whichextend up abreast jacent portion of the box mounted thereon. vPreferably the vactuated arms are also pivotedto v swing transversely of the journalaxisl to accommodatel their by-Dassing the journal collar tomove into-'- or out of positionbehindvthe collar. l

This general structure is-embodied in the arrangements shown in the accompanying draw- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionthrough an- American Association of Railroads ordinary journal box mounted upon an axle journal and having a lubricator of the-class Vdescribed associated` Figure 2 is in parta transverse kvertical section takenon-'the line2-2 off Figure 1 and in partupon the linen-2a of Figure 1. I f

mechanism shown inl'igures 1 and 2'.- y

Figure 4 isa; sidezview` of :thel'operating mechal of housing v nism, pump body and distributor with the'parts angled about each other from their .normal operating position to facilitate their passage through the space between the end of the journal and the adjacentportions ofthe box walls.

, Figures 5 and 6 correspond to the lower portionsl of Figures 1 and 2 but yillustrate another form of the invention. j f I Y A In the arrangement. shown inFigures 1-4, the journal I mounts the usualabearing 2 and wedge 3 supporting the box 4 having a bottom wall 5 whichr curves upwardly' transversely of the box to merge with side walls 6 -and merges with an upwardly and forwardly extending front wall 1. The lubricator comprises a distributor, lincluding a pad P applied to the face of the journal and supported by springs 8 seated on the box bottom wa1l,a pump 9 having a collapsible body, and a pump actuating mechanism mounted on the box bottom wall-5 and including ya, compound lever having a jointed horizontal actuatingy arm I0 and a pair of upright actuated arms I I extending upwardly abreast of` journal I and terminating in elements I2 arranged to engage the .inner face ofthe collar I 3 on the outer end of the journal.

- A positioning 'rod Il extends longitudinally of the box and is welded at W to the box rear wall l5 and at W tothe box bottom wall 5. A lever mounting housing I6 has supporting feet I'I` resting 'upon the box bottom wall and provided with aligned slots which receive rod il. 'I'he sides of housing IG journal a fulcrum pin I8 for the lever upright arms I I. and a fulcrum pin I9 for the lever.

horizontalr arm i. I 0.

lPin I 'extends outwardly beyond the sides I B and journals the rearwardly directed lower terminal`s"||a of arms II so that these-'arms' may pivot on their lower terminals transversely of the bo'x as well as'swing with pin I'B/longitudinally of the box. Springs 20 yieldingly thrust the upperends of arms Il towards the journal but permit the upperA "ends of these arms to be moved away from each other to accommodate the movement'oi'the mechanism past vjournal collar I3 when the mechanism is being inserted into the box and removed therefrom.

`the box bottox'nand irontwall. Allip 23 on the' .inner'or lefthand endo! rlever arm I0 underlies a lip 24 secured to fulcrum pin i3 and rotating with the upright arms as they swing longitudinally of the box.

The outer or right hand end of lever arm lil comprises a relatively wide paddle-like member 25 with upstanding sides 26 diverging at their rear ends to guide the arm and the lower end of the pump body as they are moved towards each other into the assembled position shown in Figure 1. The paddle is perforated at 25a to freely pass the lubricant to the pump and this part of the paddle may be screened to bar the entrance of dirt to the pump.

The pump body preferably comprises two chambers 21, 28 with a partition 29 between them, at least one of the chambers having a flexible side wall 30 and preferably the sidewalls of both chambers are flexible, being formed of leather or a. rubber-like composition. Springs 3|, 32 tend to expand the pump body to its maximum length but yield to the thrust of the operating lever, during normal functioning of the pump, or to manual pressure when the lubricatoiis being in-v stalled or removed. Preferably spring 32 is stronger than spring 3|, whereby chamber 21 will collapse more readily and prior to the collapsing of chamber 28. Flap valves 3l in the pump bottom wall 34 and similar flap valves 35 l in partition 29 comprise relatively light lmetal discs retained by cage-forming staples 36 as set forth in detail in an application led December 9, 1949, Serial No. 131,975. When lever arm I moves downwardly, valves 33 are unseated and oil iiows into chamber- 21. Upward movementv of lever arm In causes valves 33 to seat. After chamber 21 is filled with lubricant, upward move-l ment of lever arm lo causes valves 38 to be unseated and lubricant flows from chamber 21 into chamber 28 and eventually through passage 31 in distributor pad 6 and through the latter along the journal.

Axial reciprocatlon of the journal crosswise of the box due :to loose play provided between these pants will result in the oscillation of leverV I0 and the alternate collapsing and expansion of the pump body to feed lubricant to the-journal and distributor pad.

Figures and 6 illustrate 'another form of the invention in which the collapsible pump body 60 comprises lower and upper chambers 60a, 63h, respectively, substantially wider and longer than chambers 21, 28, there being a plurality of coil springs 13 in each chamber tending to expand the chamber and to thrust the operating lever -and associated parts to the position shown in Figure 5.

A relatively shont positioning rod 8| is Welded to the box and the pump lever support 62 is positioned by member 6| and is also welded directly to the box. Member 62 provides bearings 68 for the operating lever which includes a single horlzontal arm 64 and transverselyk spaced upwardly extending arms 65, one at4 each side of the journal. The operating lever paddle-like perforated arm 64 extends forwardly from support 62 and supports the pump body $0 similarly to the lever horizontal arms 2|, 22 previously described.

Pump operating rods 61 are slidably mounted on xed brackets 6I welded to the box walls and each rod has a terminal 69 at its forward -end disposed to engage the inwardly facing shoulderl of the journal collar 66 and each rod has ilts rear end pivoted at to a lever upright arm 65.

Levers 64, 65 are thrust in 'an anticlockwise direction by pump chamber springs 13 and by torsion springs 1| anchored to support 62 but are restrained by engagement of contacts 69 wifth the journal collar 66. When the journal moves to the right, it thrusts lever arms 65 in a clockwise direction, thus elevating arm 64 and collapsing at least the lower pump chamber to effect the discharge of lubricant therefrom through valves 12 in the top wall of the lower chamber. When the journal moves to the left, springs 13 expand the pump chambers and fluid is admitted to the lower chamber through the apertures 14 in lever arm 64 and flap valves 15 in the bottom wall of the chamber.

With vthis arrangement. the lubricator and pump body is applied after the operating mechanisrn has been assembled with the box, the distribwtor supporting springs 16 straddling the operating mechanism.

In both forms of the invention, the entire lubricator is positioned inwardly of the box beyond Athe endy of the journal and the pump operating members engage the inner face oi' the journal collar which positively actuates the upright arms of the pump lever as the journal moves to the right to collapse the pump body and releases the arms for spring return as the journal moves to the left to permit the pump body to expand.

The details of construction may be varied otherwise vthan as shown without departing imm the spirit of the invention and the exclusive useof those modifications coming within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a. railway axle journal having a radial collar at its outer end and a box carried by the journal and including a bottom wall and: an upright rear end wall, a journal lubricator comprising a support member mountl having a radial collar at its outer end and a box carried by the journal `and including a bottom wall andan upright rear end wall, a journal lubrica-tor comprising a support member mounted on the bottom of the box near the rear end wall thereof, a bell crank lever pivoted on said support member with an arm extending forwardly beneath the journal, a lubricant pump carried by said lever arm, means associated with said lever for distributing lubricant from said pump to the journal, said lever having an arm extending upwardly at the side of the journal, and a contact rod slidable longitudinally of the box with one end associated with the upper end of said upwardly extending lever arm and with its other end opposing the inner face of the journal collar.

3. In combination with a railway axle journal' having a radial collar at its outer end and a journal box mounted on the journal and including a bottom wall and upstanding side walls', a lever fulcrum supported on said box bottom wall and near the rear of the box a lubricant pump" a'ossgaoa" 4. In combination with ya railway axle journal having a radial collar at its outer end and journal box carried thereon, a lubricating device including ya. collapsible pump positioned beneath 'y the middle portion of the journal,a lever for operating said pump includingv a horizontal arm extend-'- ing beneath said pump longitudinally of the journal, there being actuated arms spaced apart transversely of said horizontaly arm and extending upwardly at opposite sides of the journal and terminating in elements opposing the innervface.

of rthe journal collar.

5. In a railway axle journal lubricator, alubricant pump, a support member, a pump operating mechanism mounted thereon and including a fulcrum pin extending horizontally transversely ofthe pump axis, upwardly extending lever arms spaced apart lengthwise of the pin and each having a substantially horizontal lower end extending transversely of and journaled in said fulcrum pin, there being spring means thrusting said arms towards each other about their individual journals.

6. In a railway axle journal lubricator, a lubricant pump, a support member, a pump operating mechanism mounted thereon and including a fulcrum pin extending horizontally transversely of the pump axis, upwardly extending lever arms spaced apart lengthwise of the pin and each having a substantially horizontal lower end extending transversely of and journaled in said fulcrum pin, there being spring means thrusting said arms towards each other about their individual journals, and a pump-carrying horizontally disposed arm operatively connected to said fulcrum pin to turn it and said arms as a unit about the axis of said fulcrum pin.

7. In a railway axle box journal lubricator, a support adapted to be mounted in the journal box, a bell crank lever fulcrumed on said support with arms disposed substantially horizontally and vertically, an element associated with the vertically disposed arm for contact with the vertical inner face of a radial collar of a journal to which the device may be applied, a collapsible pump body associated with the horizontally dis-l posed arm, a distributor pad overlying said pump body for application to the journal, and a member connecting said pad and said pump body, there being passageways with return check valves leading to said pump body and from said pump body to said pad.

8. In a railway axle box journal lubricator, a support adapted to be secured to the journal box, a lever having a fulcrum on said support and having arms extending upwardly from said iulcrum and spaced apart axially of the fulcrum, said lever having an arm disposed substantially horizontally, an element associated with each of said upwardly extending arms for contact with the inner face of a journal collar to which the device may be applied, a collapsible pump body mounted on the horizontally disposed arm, a distributor pad for application to the journal, there being passageways with return check valves leading from the exterior of the pump to said collapsible body and from said collapsible body to said distributor.

6 9. In a railway 'axle vjournal lubricator; a support for application to a journal box, a lever arm fulcrumed on said support and extending substantially horizontally therefrom; Ta' collapsible pump body mounted'on the outer end of said lever arm, said yarm being made in a 'plurality of sections arranged end to end and pivoted together with opposing shoulders limiting the'pivotal movementof the sections in one direction and accommodating pivotal movement of the sections in the oppositer direction.

e l0. In a railway journal box lubricator, an operating mechanism comprising a support membei", an arm pivoted thereto fand' extending 'sub-v stantially horizontally, another arm pivoted to said support'member'and extending upwardly. the pivots of said arms being parallel and each of said arms having a lip associated with the lip from the other arm and providing for'movement of said horizontal arm-by `said upwardly extending arm when the upwardly extending arm is moved in one direction, but leaving the upwardly extending arm yifree to move independently of the horizontal arm when the upwardly ex'- tendingarm is moved in the' opposite direction;`

l1. In a lubricant distributor for a railway axle journal lubricator, a support member, a bell crank lever fulcrumed thereon and including a horizontal arm and spaced upwardly extending arms, a pump body mounted on said horizontal arm and including a collapsible chamber with inlet and outlet passages having individual return check valves, said upright arms having terminals for opposing and being moved in one direction by the inner face of a radial collar on a journal to which the lubricator is applied, a lubricant distributor for application to the journal to be lubricated, and flexible structure leading from saidvchamber to said distributor, there being springs associated with said structure and body for thrusting said lever to move said elements in said direction when the device is applied to a journal.

l2. In a railway axle journal lubricator, a pump having a substantially cylindrical collapsible body disposed vertically, and an operating mechanism for collapsing said pump body including a substantially horizontally arm with a wide paddle-like terminal arranged to support the pump body, said terminal having upstanding and outwardly diverging sides adapted to receive said pump body between them.

13. In a railway axle box journal lubricator, a support member, a bell crank lever fulcrumed at its angle on said member and having a substantially horizontal arm, a lubricant pump mounted on said horizontal arm, said lever having an upwardly extending arm at one side of the pump, and a journal collar contact rod pivoted to said upwardly extending arm and extending therefrom substantially parallel to said horizontal arm to the opposite side of said pump.

14. In a railway axle box journal lubricator, a support member, a bell crank lever fulcrumed at its angle on said member and having a substantially horizontal arm, a lubricant pump mounted on said horizontal arm, said lever having upwardly extending arms at one side of the pump and spaced apart lengthwise of the lever fulcrum, and journal collar contacting elements connected to the upper ends of said upwardly extending arms and extending therefrom substantially horizontally to the opposite side of said pump.

15. In combination with a railway axle journal hnvinu a, collar; at onda-anden onrlisd. on tno.- iournnt a. journal. luhrioator Colnnrisins o boli. oronls lov-.on niyotnl-.iy nnofnrnodA on in@ box. bottoni. woll substantially beneath tho journal. coilnr and. hnvins.LA annum. extending. bononth the journal.. npuinn mounind .on said arm, a lubricantdistributornnnliod to the. journal and connecfteti.A tol said said lover` having :in arm extending upwardly aiongsdfV of. the journal and contacting with the inner face4 of the journal collar.

16. In ombingtion with a.' railway axle journal having a collar at its outer end and va. box carriad onthe j'iiirv'ninl,A a joui-,nad lubricator comprising n boil. crank boven Pivotolly mounted on the DQX bottoni walk snbsinntially beneath the journal oollnr and having nn ann extendins'boneath the journal. a, numnmonntod on said avm., a, `1ubitionnt distrib,.uio,rv applied, Vto the` journal. and connected to saidV pump, soin lover hnving n biffureatod arm extending upwardly at opposite sides ofl the, journal with itsv bifurcations pivotedl at; then?y lower ond to. nwing transversely of the journal independently of they nist-mentioned ann. and to swing lonsitudinlln of the iournnl with said nrst-mentionou unn- 1:71- Ina. railway.. uxlo journal: iubintor. o. pori mombor n. fuloruin; a non. crank. loyer.- fulorunioo, on4 said member ind; having, un: warum-extending ann. norinns sonnen; anni to! recv an. aigle journaly betweeny thexn, tn'ellevver also. on. ann wnndnlg horizontally said fulcrum member, a! pump` mounted on, lion-i,zontaJLyl eigtenging va'rxninterxnedivzttev said upwardlyfnoing. am. noriions, and. elements asf. soointon withA sind.; upwardly.. extending ann nor-4 iions ion engaging. nnrfts of an. axis. ioulnal. fnoing lenginwiso of inn journal. ni, Opposite of the. J'onnal.. v JAWS J- HENNESSY- Rferepges Qitevd. in liey ofA this Dtent UNITED. STATES PATENTS 

